Men and women widowed after 09/04/01 who have dependent children will normally be eligable for Widowed Parents Allowance. Women who were widowed before 09/04/01 would be claiming Widowed Mother's Allowance instead.

If your spouse met the National Insurance Contribution conditions the full rate of £112.55 a week is payable. This amount will be reduced if you are under 55 of if their National Insurance record was incomplete, unless they died as a result of an industrial accident or disease.

Increases for qualifying children are £8.20 for one and £11.35 for any others. After 2003 child additions will need to be claimed via Tax Credits.

You may also get an additional pension from SERPS based on your spouses earnings.

Bereavement Payment

This is a tax free lump sum payment of £2,000 for those widowed since 09/04/01. You must be under pension age or if you are older then your spouse should not have been getting a Retirement Pension based on their own National Insurnace Contributions.

How do I claim?

Claim straight away. If you delay you may lose benefit.

Contact your Jobcentre+ or Social Security office for a claim form. There is one claim for all of the widow's benefits.